Madison Academy boys headed to Area Championship

Senior Spencer Palmer led Madison Academy to a 68-48 victory over New Hope in the area semi-finals.

Palmer scored 22 points, with 15 in the second half.

“In the first half I struggled shooting,” Palmer said. “In the second half I knocked down the first shot I took.”

Eighth-grade point guard, Kerryon Johnson, also reached double digits, scoring 20 points for the Mustangs. Johnson also had six rebounds.

Madison Academy Coach Andy Blackston said he was impressed with Johnson’s holding New Hope’s Trevor Cross to a mere 8 points. Cross scored 24 points against Madison Academy in their last meeting, which resulted in a loss for the Mustangs in overtime.

“He killed us last time,” Blackston said.

Daniel Payne led the Indians in scoring and rebounds. He scored 25 points and had 10 rebounds.

The Mustangs led by a score of 31-27 at half time, but stepped up the pace in the second half.

Blackston said Nicholas Haas was also a key to the victory over New Hope.

“He changed the whole momentum in the second half,” Blackston said.

Madison Academy will face the winner of the Randolph-Butler game in the Area Championship at 7 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Randolph School.